With a global recession going on, it is no longer a sure thing to get a degree, get a job, and be set for life. There are more and more students vying for fewer and fewer jobs. It is important to get real life skills that apply to jobs, and students are now taking this into their own hands.

Undergraduates at university have always been involved in extra curricular activities, but now they are using these activities to gain marketable skills. By creating student run organizations, undergrads are teaching themselves management skills that can be hard to come by at a young age.

While the extra curricular activities may not be the job a student intends to get after college, they can offer a ticket to a desired job. These activities can help students learn networking, confidence, social skills and technical abilities.

These student run activities also show potential employers that these kids have ambition and the drive to be self starters. Companies are no longer looking for a cog to fit into the corporate machine, they are looking for ingenuity and creativity. Signing up at the career canter for work experience does not look the same on a CV that creating your own job opportunity does.

Students are beginning to help one another instead of rely on career fairs and advisors to give them job advice. Students helping each other fosters teamwork, problem solving and communication. All of these are skills that employers are looking for.

Extra qualifications beyond a degree will give a prospective employee a good edge, especially if they are looking for work in the major cities looking for graduate jobs london or manchester for example . Students are even organizing their own career fairs with large companies to show off their skills. These fairs also allow students to make valuable contacts before they even leave the university.

Meeting employers face to face allows students to show their skills rather than just writing them in a resume. Being a self starter allows these students to branch out beyond just academic knowledge and show what they can really offer to a company.

It is important for students to be proactive about their own job skills training in such a competitive environment. Student run programs can sometimes get bogged down with such a high turnover rate that can stall things from going forward. That aside, students are taking more and more control of their own futures by creating and participating in more and more extra curricular activities.

The national council for work experience and the prospects.ac.uk websites have in depth resources to help you find the perfect placement or extra curricular experience to add to your CV.

Many graduates are now considering an education in further education but just do not know how to go about doing that. There are many different resources that one could consider using to get the information they need. If you are interested in getting information about further education programs, then you have come to the right place.

To work as a teacher in state-maintained schools in England and Wales you need to have professional qualified teacher status (QTS). For further information on teaching in other areas of the United Kingdom please see teaching in Scotland and teaching in Northern Ireland.

Teachers in independent schools are not required to have QTS, but most do.

To be awarded QTS by the General Teaching Council for England (GTC) you must:

• Complete a period of training, such as a one-year professional or postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) course, which recommends you for QTS. This is known as initial teacher training (ITT).
• Complete a period of induction, known as the newly qualified teacher (NQT) year. This is your first year of employment as a teacher in a school. You do not have to start this induction period immediately after your ITT, but you would be expected to complete it within five years.
• Pass QTS Skills Tests in literacy, numeracy and information and communications technology (ICT) by the end of your ITT period (if training in England). These tests can be taken at any of the 50 test centres throughout England, and most students complete them while on their PGCE course.

If you want to work as a teacher with the full range of responsibilities in further education (FE) colleges or sixth form colleges, you need Qualified Teacher, Learning and Skills (QTLS) status or QTS.
Further education in the UK is on the rise. There are many qualified instructors needed in order to properly teach a class. There are many things that graduates can do if they are interested in further education such as attend special events for teachers and get as much information as possible about becoming a teacher for beyond high school. Many institutions are offering to help students get started any way they can. They are helping students get as much information as possible about the professional further education program, teacher education programs, and applying to the programs as well.

There are many institutions that are accepting students in their programs for further education. You must be interested in teaching beyond the high school years as that is what a further education career is. The University of Windsor is one of the many institutions offering this kind of career program. You have to be able to attend classes on campus and be willing to participate in certain program hours in order to complete the education requirements. This school has been in the education business for many years and has one of the best curriculum that is available to anyone interested in further education. They also have many openings for anyone that is interested in applying for employment with them.

If you are interested in furthering your education with a degree in further education, it would be in your best interest to get online and start researching the many institutions that offer that. Finding an approved degree for furthering education can take some time. Not everyone is going to meet the requirements set forth for each institution, so it make take you some time to find the right one. You can also find additional qualifications for teachers programs online as well.

Summer and Autumn registrations are already beginning so it would be in your best interest to find your learning institution pretty fast and start the process for teacher training. Furthering education can be one of the best careers in the world to get into. It can offer tons of rewards and be one of the best jobs that you ever have.

When you become a student at any School or University, you may be moving away from your home and your comfort zone. Therefore, one of the first things you need to do, in such a case, is to look for student flats, close to the neighborhood where you will be going to school. Try to get there early to familiarize yourself with the area, and make sure there are other students like you, who also live in the vicinity.

Try to look for accommodations that are popular with students, when you are seeking to find somewhere to live abroad. If you are on a tight budget or you are someone who does not have a car, make an effort to find somewhere within walking distance to the university or college you will be attending.

Here are some guidelines to know follow when you are researching for your new accommodations and the top 5 tips for getting a student flat:

1# There are a limited number of flats for rent that are available, so make sure you start your research early, perhaps even in the summer, before school starts.

#2 Many schools and universities in the UK offer private accommodations for single students, students who are couples without children, as well as student-families with children, so make sure you request the appropriate flat.

#3 Look online if you live overseas and try to contact your landlord or rental agent, either by phone, or online, before you make your trip. Local newspapers, classified ads sites and property search sites such as vivastreet are great places for student lets. Also check out the official student housing pages for some tips and advice.

#4 Property managers usually know that students cannot afford paying high rents, so make sure you let them know that you are a student looking for an inexpensive flat; that way they will be very accommodating.

#5 When you become a student at any School or University, you may be moving away from your home and your comfort zone. Therefore, one of the first things you need to do, in such a case, is to look for student property to rent within the neighborhood where you will be going to school. Your flat should also be close enough to the school or university campus, and sometimes even within walking distance.

Rounding out the package of attractive graduate account services is the Graduate Manager who will personally meet with account applicants to help set them up for a successful fiscal life. It should be noted that graduate accounts are designed for daily activity, and as such do not bear as much interest as long term savings accounts.

On the flipside, the ease of accessibility – graduate accounts may be utilized via the Internet, WAP phone, telephone, mail, and digital TV – make these very convenient, especially for those recent graduates who are not yet sure where they may end up living. In such cases, even the lack of an available bank branch does not have to interrupt the banking relationship.

In many cases, the fresh baked graduate in England will be earning a living for the very first time. Unfortunately, some former students leave university and enter the workforce with a lot of student loan debt as well as credit card balances and even the occasional overdraft. There are 10 surefire ways of getting graduate finances off to a great start, and if you want to earn high marks in fiscal responsibility, you will do well to listen up.

1. Budget your monthly expenses. You are most likely now faced with expenses which differ from those you incurred while you were still living as a student. When you determine early on where you money will go, you will get a head start on putting a big dent in your outstanding debts and getting them paid off quickly.

2. Pay off your student loan debt last. Since the Government sponsored student loan deal offers the cheapest interest rates currently in existence, it is worthwhile to eliminate higher interest debts first. Additionally, repayment does not begin until you are bringing in £15,000. This leaves you most likely with your overdrafts and also credit card debts.

3. Plan your debt repayment. Knowing how much you owe and how much you can afford to put toward your debts is vital for a sound budget. Getting caught unawares with respect to outstanding bills and balances may lead to financial disaster. If you find that you have a hard time meeting all of your financial obligations, consider consolidating them onto a transfer card that offers 0% interest.

4. Initiate a savings plan. After your debt repayment is scheduled and you have found a way of incorporating aggressive debt reduction in your overall budget, it is time to also put some money away. Opting for an interest earning Cash ISA that also offers tax sheltering is a good idea. The sooner you begin saving, the more will accumulate over the lifetime of the account.

5. Open a graduate account that meets your needs. Even if you have already opened a student account previously, consider moving your business to a different banking provider. After all, what suited you well prior to graduation may not be exactly what you need a couple of years down the road. If you can show that you qualify for the account and your banking history with your initial student account is solid, there is no reason why you may not move your business.

6. Exercise fiscal savvy rather than falling for handouts. You may be offered teaser rates and freebies just for opening an account with one bank over another. Perhaps you are offered discounted CDs or mobile phone savings, but when these are used up, you are left with a graduate account that costs more money than you saved with the free offers.

7. Know your approved overdraft rate. If you must let your finances go in the red, you may do so at a cost. Some graduate account providers offer as little as 10% interest while others will charge as much as 18%. Interviewing different banks has an advantage in that you can compare rates before you may need to pay them.

8. Know your gratis overdraft limit. There are a couple of graduate account providers who permit you to operate in the red to the tune of £2,500 in the first year, £1,000 in the second and £500 in the third, without charging any interest.

9. Be aware of your unapproved overdraft cost. If your red turns redder and you go beyond the agreed upon terms for overdraft protection, you will incur interest charges at a different rate. These fees vary by provider, but may run to the tune of 14.8% all the way up to 29.8% plus an additional £30 per day. Avoid this kind of accounting mistake whenever possible but shop around for the most favorable terms before doing business with any bank.

10. Cast an eye toward property ownership. Learn about mortgages, chart the housing trends, and think twice before you sign up for a 100% mortgage product; it is usually too expensive in the long run.

1. Open a student bank account that meets all of your need at the minimum costs possible. You may want to favor one bank over another because of the freebies that are used as incentives for university students bringing their business there, but no CD or cinema ticket is worth the cost of an account that gradually eats away at the value of free items with fees and costs of doing business. On the other hand, some incentives – when coupled with advantageous student account terms – make for attractive and money saving offers.

2. Work on your budget. Know how much money you will receive on a monthly basis and then set up a list of all expenses. Your expenses cannot be more than your incoming funds, and it is important to make the budget and then follow it. Online budget planners are a good way of inputting schedules for paying your tuition fees and also rent and other expenses. This prevents any last minute surprises and will not catch you halfway through the month with no money left.

3. Find a job. Even as your primary job is getting a good university education, a secondary job that brings in money is oftentimes the only way to make ends meet. In addition to helping with defraying some of the costs you incur during your education, you are gain valuable work experience and references, which will come in very handy after graduation.

4. Open a savings account to help with the big ticket expenses. Payments on your student loan will come due thrice in a year, and having this much money in you main operating account might tempt you to buy things you really should not spend any money on. A secondary savings account will put the money out of harm’s way, let it earn some interest, and allow you to contribute to it at regular intervals. When the student fee payment comes due, you do not have to scramble but have your funds ready.

5. Save money in the right places. Second hand buying is synonymous with student living, and skimping in the right places can save you substantial sums of money. Books almost always can be had second hand, and the same is true for a bike and basic appliances. Always check for deals at the grocery store, and make use of group discounts at clubs and other venues.

For this comparison we will look at 17 different accounts available in th UK in 2008-2009:

1. The Abbey Student Account Package offers a 3.93% credit interest rate and a £350 credit card limit. In addition, you may enjoy a 9.9% authorised overdraft and a 28.7% unauthorised fee. If you keep the account and transfer it into a graduate account after your time at university, there will be a £50 cash incentive.

2. The Abbey International Student Account Package offers a 5.84% credit interest rate and the same credit card limit, but there are not overdrafts offered.

3. Student Accounts with the Bank of Ireland have a low 0.50% credit interest rate and a lower £250 credit card limit. The authorised overdraft is 0% while the unauthorised tops at 12.68%. If you transfer your account into a graduate account within two years of graduating from university, you are treated to a discount card for travel in Northern Ireland and also various discounts.

4. Barclays Student Account Package starts off with a 0.10% credit interest rate and a rather high £600 credit card limit. The authorised overdraft is 8.9% while there is no unauthorised one. You may turn it into a graduate account within two years of graduation. Enjoy the incentive of six free cinema tickets.

5. The Clydesdale Student Bank Account Package offers 2.90% credit interest and a £500 credit card limit. The authorised overdraft stands at 7.49% wile the unauthorised overdraft will cost a whopping 29.99%. Keep in mind that you have only six months after graduation to transfer your account into a graduate account.

6. A bit different from the rest is the Co-operative Bank student account which offers no credit interest rate and has a negotiable credit card limit. The authorised overdraft cost runs at 9.9% and the unauthorised stands at 15.9%. There is a 12 months cap to transfer your student account into a graduate account after your studies at university are finished.

7. The First Trust Bank offers no credit interest and a negotiable credit card limit, while also offering 0.0% for the authorised overdraft. The unauthorised overdraft runs at 9.0% and within two years of graduation you may transfer your student account to a graduate account.

8. A student account at HSBC begins with a 5.84% credit interest rate and a £500 credit card limit. Authorised overdrafts incur 3.0% charges while there is no unauthorised package available. You may transfer your student account to a graduate account.

9. The international version of the HSBC student account offers a 0.10% credit interest rate but no credit card of overdrafts. There are discounts available but the account may not be transferred into a graduate account.

10. A Halifax student account package carries a 2.00% credit interest rate and offers a negotiable credit card limit. Authorised overdrafts run 7.2% while unauthorised overdrafts cost 24.2%. Within 12 months of graduation you may transfer you student account into a graduate account. Incentives offered to you are discounts on AA breakdown and Cardcare cover.
11. Students banking with Lloyds TSB find a 0.10% credit interest rate, £500 credit card limit, 8.2% authorised overdraft cost, and an identical unauthorised overdraft expense. Transfer from student account to graduate account must occur by 30 September upon university graduation. A generous incentive package includes £20 just for opening the account and up to £80 for referring up to four friends to also open accounts.

12. The Islamic Lloyds TSB student account offers no services other than a year one £1,500 overdraft. Eligible for graduate account transfer, there is a £25 incentive and an additional £50 credit if there are no overdrafts posted to the account and three credits have been paid.

13. NatWest offers students accounts at 0.10% credit interest with a £500 credit card limit, and an unauthorised overdraft cost of 17.84%. You may transfer your student account into a graduate account. A five year rail card worth £120 makes for a most useful incentive.

14. The Royal Bank of Scotland student account package starts out with a 2.00% credit interest and a £500 credit card limit. There is an unauthorised overdraft at a staggering 29.84% and it is wise not to make use of it. Transfer the account within 12 months of graduation into a graduate account. To sweeten the deal, the bank offers a free webcam complete with online applications as a primary incentive. There are also shopping and entertainment discounts offered.

15. The Smile student account package has a 2.25% credit interest and a negotiable credit card limit. Authorised overdrafts cost 9.9% while unauthorised overdrafts run 15.9%. You may transfer the account to a graduate account within four years of opening it.

16. Ulster bank offers a 0.10% credit interest and negotiable credit card limit and authorised overdraft cost. The unauthorised overdraft fee is currently at 12.7%. Transfer your account to a graduate account within two years of graduating from university.

17. With a Yorkshire Bank student account package, you enjoy a 2.90% credit interest and a £500 credit card limit. Authorised overdrafts cost 7.49% while unauthorised overdrafts run up to 29.99%. You have up to six months after graduation to transfer the student account to a graduate account.

After the initial period three month period, the card offers a tiered cashback rate, so depending on how much you spend a year, as a graduate you will be able to earn between 0.5% and 1.5% cashback.

This card is great for graduates earning over £20,000 and provides you with all the perks associated with American Express.

This card does not come with an introductory or balance transfer deal, so will not be useful if you are looking to borrow on the card. But this is leveraged by the generous cash back amount available.

Find out more about the Platinum American express here.

When it comes to graduate banking, Lloyds TSB and the Royal Bank of Scotland offer graduates a special interest-free overdraft for three years; and have great 0% overdraft limits. The interest free maximums are £2,000 in year one, £1,500 year two and £1,000 year three.

With Lloyds TSB’s graduate account the limits are guaranteed while RBS’ graduate limit is approved on a case-by-case basis. Yet to counter that, if you need to borrow over the limit, and its agreed RBS is cheaper at around 10% compared to Lloyds 16%; plus it also pays higher in-credit interest. Though if you do need more borrowing, in either case it is likely to be cheaper to get a special graduate loan.

As the difference between the is subtle, go for whats most convenient for you.

Do you have a Halifax or Bank of Scotland Student Account?
Although they don’t offer graduate accounts per say, most existing Halifax or Royal Bank Of Scotland student accounts holders can receive up to £2,750 interest free as part of their overdraft for the first year of graduation as an extension of their student account.

Therefore if you’re with either the Royal Bank of Scotland or Halifax, stick with them this year, then switch to the best graduate account the next. There is always a chance such good limits to switch to won’t be offered next year, but graduate account deals have been consistently improving with most banks.

As a recent graduate, you will be looking for a place to live, and chances are you will be starting off by renting a flat or studio. So what should a graduate look out for when viewing a rental property?

Below is a thorough guide to the different things you should keep in mind when viewing a property to let.

1. Before viewing

Always try to go to a property viewing with a friend, it is not only safer but it also means you will get a second opinion, and more chances to pick out flaws you may not have seen. If you want to be even more careful, let friends or family know where you are going in case and keep a taxi number for the way back.

2. Viewing the flat: Take your Time

Estate agents might try to rush you through a viewing, especially during peak hours. In our current high demand rent market, this is your only opportunity to judge the place, so don’t be afraid to take your time and ask as many questions as possible. Remember that Estate agents will appreciate a curious buyer, who knows what they want.

Try and prepare questions before you view your property, you will find that the more properties you view the more questions you will be asking based on previous experience. A good idea is to draw up a check list to take along, and to bring in a notepad to take notes.

If you sign the lease you will be doing so based on your viewing, meaning if you didn’t check the water pressure or notice the lack of radiators, there wont be a lot you can do about it once you’ve signed the contract.

3. The Local Neighboorhood

See if you can show up slightly early to allow yourself a look around and get a feel for the area. Try and revisit at different times to check whether the area is well-lit? If its a safe environment or will you feel isolated and vulnerable?

Find out about the local Amenities: Shop, Tube stations, parks, cashpoints, bus stops, banks and parking are all very important factors to look for.

Availability of public transport is one of the most important points: How far is the nearest stop? How frequent and reliable is the tube or bus service and does it operate in the evenings and at weekends? Many stations close earlier on weekends, and this might impact your socialising in the evenings or taxi expenses! How much is a monthly season card – don’t forget to cost the commuting factor into your monthly outgoings.

4. Viewing the Property & its condition

Take time to look for signs of damp in all rooms – usually telling signs are a musty smell, flaking paint, loose wallpaper, spots on the walls.

Look for any signs of mice infestation by looking for droppings, traps or poison baits – don’t forget to check for this in ground floor cupboards.

Is there central heating, and do all the heaters and radiators work? If the property doesn’t come with central heating is there an alternative source such as storage heaters/electric heating? Is central heating included in your rent?

Is there double glazing in your new flat? If not, check if the area is quiet. Not having double glazing means sleepless nights on busy streets and higher heating bills.

Are the general decorations to your taste? Look at paint, wallpaper, carpets, floorboards are they in reasonable condition and check if you would be allowed to carry out any decorations if not?

Check for space, especially if you plan on moving a lot of stuff from home. Is there adequate storage space in the property? Does the kitchen have enough surface & storage space for your needs?

Finally we would recommend as a graduate that you visit the property more than once and at different times of the day to check that they are happy with the area. Other than that, happy flat hunting.